GREEN SPRINGS – For more than 100 re-enactors who attended Green Spring’s annual Civil War Days this weekend, the event was an escape and a distraction from their modern-day woes.

Many of the re-enactors chose to camp out at the battle encampment on the Elmwood Healthcare Center grounds. It is almost like a vacation, according to Clyde resident Haley Lozier, who has participated for the past three years.

“I really like to dress up and feel like I’m going back in time,” she said, dressed in mid-19th century attire she purchased offline with the help of the Army of the Ohio Civil War Re-enactors. “It helps de-stress you, and it’s a fun hobby.”

Elizabeth Brackett, of Oak Harbor, has participated in the event for the past four years with her family. Like Lozier, she finds most of her clothing online. She said most of the clothing is handcrafted and historically accurate.

“Coming here for the weekend is like going to your second family,” Brackett said. “We’re all really close. It’s a relaxing getaway from everyday life.”

Although cellphones are kept on camp for emergencies, many of the re-enactors like to keep everything completely authentic to the time period. So, they unplug for the most part.

“Very rarely do we have modern stuff out,” Lozier said.

Robert Brugler, a President Abraham Lincoln re-enactor originally from Columbus, was born one day after Lincoln’s birthday. He got his start as a re-enactor after dressing up as the president on his birthday to entertain his high school science class. After 12 years of dressing up, he caught the re-enactment bug. Now, he travels all over the country to participate in various Civil War re-enactment events — including some in Gettysburg.

It was his first year at Civil War Days.

“I try to be as accurate as possible, especially when I’m around kids and they ask questions.”